Method of and apparatus for controlling the sublimation of solid carbon dioxide



Dec. 3l, 1935. H. c, WILLIAMSON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE SUBLIMATION OF SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE Filed July 30, i954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Denc. 31, 1935. H, Q wlLLlAMsoN 2,026,335

METHOD OF' AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE SUBLIMATION OF SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE Filed July 30, 1954 2 She.=r,s-Shee'rI 2 'Zigi 'Patented Dec. 3l, 1955 2,026,335

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CON- TROLLING THE SUBLIMATION OF SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE Henry C. Williamson, Chicago, Ill., .assignor to The Beckley-Ralston Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application July 30, 1934, Serial No. 737,503

3 Claims. (Cl. 6291.5)

This invention relates to a method of and apfrom the wall II) to form an annular chamber paratus for controlling the sublimation of solid I3, and outer bottom I4. The space Within the carbon dioxide, and more particularly to such walls I and II for holding solid carbon dioxide method and apparatus adapted for the refrigei-ahas restricted communication with the gas cham- 5 tion and carbonation of beverages, ber I3 through a hand operated needle valve I4. 5

One object of the invention is to provide appe- The Container is closed by a cover comprising a ratus of the character specified, adapted to be Convex Wall I5 and at t0n I6 insulated from associated with e beverage container or containeach Other and riveted together near their peers, such for example as beer kegs or barrels rlDherieS. The @over reStS 0n a gasket I7 and from which the beverage or beverages are con- S `held ClOWn 0n the Container by means 0f 10 veyed to the apparatus of my invention for the threaded pin I8 situated in the center of the purpose of cooling and carbonating the same, cover, surrounded by a sleeve I9 which is ,re-

Another object of the invention is to provide eessedo 1eeelve IShe ends 0f a plurality 0f arms in combination with a container for solid carbony 2 Wllleh fulerllrn at 2| and have their outer dioxide, thermostatically operated means in- .ends reposlrlg Wthln reeeSSeS 22 in the ange 15 luenced by the variations in temperature of the 23 Sllrlollnellng the upper p0rt10r1 0f the container, material to be cooled for actuating a valve which aod a nut 24 threade pon the pm I3 Provided controls the sublimation of the solid carbon Wlth handles 25 by vhleh the nut-may be rotated. dioxide, thereby rendering the apparatus. auto By Totatmg the nul? 24, Pressure le brought t0 matic in its operation and efficient for producing bear upon the Sleeve I9, thereby urems the inner 2o CO2 gas as required for treating the material to ends of the arms 20 downwardly and Ihe Outer be refrigerated. ends thereof upwardly to cause the arms 20 to Another object of the invention is to provide bear upon the @over I6., Preventing leakage of the apparatus including a compartment for the regas formed by the Subllmatlon of the Solid CarbOn ception of solid carbon dioxide, with m'eans for dloxldo- 25 controlling the sublimation of the solid carbon In the form 0f apparatus Shown 1n .the drawdioxide and for employing the gases and pressure lugs an annular Chamber 26 for holdlng a bevobtained by the sublimation of the solid carbon @rage 0r beverages Surrounds the annular gas dioxide for the purpose of refrigerating, carbon ohamloer l3- The Chamber 25 l5 defined by an ating and dispensing the beverage inner wall 2'I and an outer cylindrical Wall 28 30 While I have shown my invention as embodied joined together at the top and bOISOIn, and insuin apparatus for carbonating, refrigerating and lated, if desired, from the Wall I2 0f the gas dispensing beverages, it will be understood from Chamber- The beverage Chamber 26 may be the following description and claims that the individed intO Separate compartments if desired,

vention is not limited to the construction shown, by means of vertical partitions 29 Which, as 35 nor to the performance of these combined obshown (Fig- 2) are integral With the inner Wall `iects, for obviously that part of the apparatus 21. Thus I provide holders for different bevwhich is essential for the controlled sublimation orages, as for instance, dark beer, light beer and of the solid carbon dioxide may be employed for water. Each of the chambers 26 is provided with refrigerating materials which do not require to a beverage inlet 30 and a dispensing faucet 3I. 40

be carbonated. As the 'solid carbonA dioxide in the container I0 In the drawings: sublimates, the gas enters the annular chamber Fig. 1 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, I3 andthe heat from the beverages contained Showing apparatus embodying my invention. in the annular chambers 26 is absorbed by the Flg. 2 iS a hOI'ZOIlal Section taken On the lines cold gases Within the Chamber I3, The pressure 45 2-2 0f Fig. 1. within the chamber I3 is low relative t0 the pres- Fis. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical Section sure within the solid carbon dioxide chamber. 0f the Valve fOr C0nIJ101line the SublimatiOn 0f The means for controlling the sublimation of the the C02- solid carbon dioxide governs the escape of CO2 In that embodiment of theinvention which I from the gas chamber I3 into which it has en- 50 have Chosen t0 illustrate in the drawings, the tered through the restricted valved opening I 4. container for holding solid carbon dioxide and The control means comprises a valve having a gas formed by the sublimation of solid carbon nipple 32 threaded into the wall I2 of the condioxide comprises an inner cylindrical wall Hl, tainer, provided with a passage therethrough concavebottomll,outercylindrica1wall I2 spaced which communicates with a passage 33 leading 55 to the low pressure chamber I3. The passage in the nipple 32 communicates with a passage in the main body 34 of the control valve, the latter passage entering a chamber 35 in the valve. The valve is comprised of the section 34 superimposed by sections 36 and 31. Interposed between the sections 34 and 36 is a plate or valve seat 38 having a central passage 39 therein and a valve 40 in control of this passage. A spring 4I within the chamber 35 normally holds the valve 40 closed. A bellows 42 has operative connection with the valve 40 through the rod 43.

Between the wall 21 of the beverage chamberand the wall I2 of the gas chamber, and preferably adjacent the partition wall 29 when the chamber 26 is divided into compartments, is a thermostat bulb 44 which has communication with the portion 31 of the valve through the tube 45. When Warm beer or other beverage is introduced into the annular chamber 26 from the barrel (not shown), through inlet 30, heat is transferred to the bulb 44 which is aiected thereby, expanding the thermo-element therewithin and bringing pressure to bear upon the bellows 42 within the valve section 31. The valve 40 is thus opened when the pressure is suiicient to overcome the resistance of the spring 4I within the valve section 34. CO2 gas confined in the low pressure chamber I3 is thus allowed to pass into the valve chamber 35 through the valve opening 39 and to atmosphere through the apertures 46 in the intermediate valve section 36.

Further sublimation of the solid carbon dioxide is thereby permitted and the latent heat of sublimation is effective in reducing the temperature of the beverage within the chamber 26. When a predeterminedytemperature is obtained or has been established within the thermo-element 44, the contraction of the element releases the pressure on the bellows 42, thereby releasing the valve 49 to the influence of the spring 4I which latter closes the valve 40 against further escape of gas. The gas is then allowed to build up a pressure within the low pressure chamber I3, aording the necessary pressure to retard sublimation.

Adjustment of the pressure of the spring 4I may be made through the medium of the element 41 which is concealed and protected by the cap 48.

Referring now to that part of the apparatus which is provided for the carbonating and dispensing of the beverage or beverages, I have chosen to illustrate herein means for carbonating and dispensing beverages from two containers, such as beer barrels (not shown) and for carbonating water from a source of supply under pressure. Consequently I have provided means for conveying CO2 under pressure from the solid carbon dioxide container I to the beverage containers (not shown) `through a conduit 49, and conduits 50, 50, and for conveying the beverages and CO2 to the inlets 30 to chambers 26 through conduits I, 5I, whereby the beer or other beverage is simultaneously carbonated and put under pressure for dispensing the same through faucets 3|. Since the water is brought to its chamber 26 under pressure, from any suitable source of supply 5I', CO2 for carbonating it is conveyed directly from chamber I0 through conduit 52 to chamber 26.

The means for controlling the passage of CO2 to the chambers 26 comprises a valve having a nipple 52 with a passage53 therethrough communicating with a passage 54 in the main body o! the valve. A regulating element 55 controls the passage of sublimated gas through the passage 53 and this element may be adjusted with a screw driver or similar instrument by removing the protecting cap 56. Passage of the sublimated gas is further controlled by a needle valve 51 which is threaded into a movable portion 58 Within the main body of the valve. Adjustment of the needle valve 51 may be made by rotating the valve retainer 59 after removing the protecting cap 60. A slot 6I within the valve retainer 59 allows the needle valve.51 to move vertically. A spring 62 bears against the movable element 58 within the main body of the valve and normally closes the passage 54. Acting against the spring 62 is" a bellows 63 in which is contained a spring 64. Adjustment of the spring 64 is made through the medium of the slotted element 65 which is covered by the protecting cap 66. A predetermined pressure is maintained in the bellows 63 which has the eiect of maintaining the needle valve 51 normally open to allow sublimated gas to pass from the solid carbon dioxide chamber into the beer barrel or other container, not shown, through the conduits 49, 58, 50.

As long as the pressure within the beverage container, or in other words the conduit 49 is surncient, the valve 51 remains closed but if the pressure drops within the conduit 49 the pressure within the bellows 63 is such that the valve 51 will be opened, due tothe downward movement of the movable element 58 which carries the valve 51. Accordingly, gas pressure is transferred from the container I0 to the beverage container or containers through the passages 53, 54 and conduits 49 and 50, 50.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the valve on the left in Fig. lcontrols the CO2 gas pressure in the beverage containers (not shown) and the annular beverage chamber 26, and this pressure not only serves to carbonate the beverage but likewise furnishes the necessary pressure to effect dispensation of the beverage through the .faucets 3 I. The valve on the right in Fig. 1 is solely for the purpose of controlling the sublimation of the solid carbon dioxide and thereby the cooling of the beverage within the annular chamber or chambers 26. Thus the sublimation of the solid carbon dioxide is controlled by the thermostatically actuated valve which controls the escape of gas from the chamber I3, into which the gas enters, through the valved opening I4', from the chamber III; the varying pressure in the gas chamber I3 serving to retard or accelerate the sublimation of the solid carbon dioxide to form CO2 gas as required for refrigeration purposes, or when the apparatus is used as herein described, as required for refrigeration, carbonation and dispensing purposes,

By the use of my apparatus I am enabled to carbonate water at relatively low CO2 pressure. This is made possible by the fact that as the wa.- ter reaches the chamber 26 it becomes instantly cooled and the CO2 gas carbonates it eiciently at low pressure. This instant cooling is facilitated by reason of the-relatively small volume of water spread over a relatively large refrigerating surface. My method is a departure from the established practice ofv carbonating water at atmospheric temperatures, in large volume, requiring high CO2 pressure.

It will be understood that the conduits 5I' and 52 carrying water and CO2 to the water chamber 26 are supplied with check valves to adjust the relative pressures in said lines.

Changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the scope of my invention and I do not intend to be limited to the exact form shown and described, except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:-

l. Refrigerating and earbonating apparatus comprising a container for holding solid carbon dioxide, an annular chamber surrounding the solid carbon dioxide container for holding gas formed by the sublimation of the solid carbon dioxide, said gas chamber having restricted communication with the solid carbon dioxide container, a second annular chamber surroundingthe annular gas chamber for holding beverages to be cooled and carbonated, a valve controlled conduit between the container holding the solid carbon dioxide and the said beverage chamber, and permitting passage of carbon dioxide gas under pressure to said beverage chamber, and valve means for controlling the'escape of gas from the gas chamber.

2. Refrigerating and carbonating apparatus comprising a container for holding solid carbon dioxide, an annular chamber surrounding the solid carbon dioxide container `i'or holding gas formed by the sublimation of the solid carbon dioxide, said gas chamber having restricted communication with the solid carbon dioxide container, a second annular chamber surroundingV ,means comprising a thermostatic element located adjacent the beverage chamber and a pressureoperated valve actuated by the thermostatic ele- 10 ment for controlling the escape of gas from the Igas chamber.

3. Apparatus for refrigerating, carbonating and dispensing beverages, comprising a container for solid carbon dioxide, a gas chamber surroundl5 ing the container for receiving sublimated carbon dioxide from said chamber, a thermostatically controlled valve on the gas chamber controlling the escape of gas, a beverage refrigerating chamber surrounding the gas chamber, an independ- 20 ent container for beverage supply, a valve conduit between the solid carbon dioxide container and said independent beverage supply container for conveying sublimated carbon dioxide to the independent container, means for conveying the 25 beverage and sublimated carbon dioxide to the beverage refrigerating chamber, and means for dispensing the beverage from the refrigerating chamber.

' HENRY C. WILLIAMSON. 30 

